Glossary: Fungi / mycology

Adnate Having a fusion of unlike parts. In mushrooms, the attachment of the fertile tissue (the gills, tubes, spines, etc.) to the stipe (stem) in which the attachment is perpendicular to the stipe (stem)

Adnexed In mushrooms, the attachment of the fertile tissue (the gills, tubes, spines, etc.) to the stipe (stem) in which the fertile tissue typically curves upwards towards the pileus (cap)

Agaric Describing a fungus having a cap (pileus), gills (lamellae), and a stem (stipe), i.e., what most people would call a mushroom Did you know? The mushroom above ground is only the fruiting body. Most of the fungus lives hidden as mycelium in soil, wood, or leaf litter.

Amyloid A type of chemical staining reaction in which the tissues of certain fungi (spore wall ornamentation, etc.) stains bluish-black in Melzer's reagent. Examples include species in the genera Russula and Lactarius.

Ascomycete A fungus that forms its sexual spores inside a special cell called the ascus. Because the ascus is often sac-shaped, the ascomycetes are sometimes referred to as sac fungi. The spores are termed ascospores. Usually there are eight ascospores formed in each ascus, but the number can vary from one to more than one hundred, depending upon the species. The ascomycetes comprise the largest…

Basidiomycete A type of fungus that forms its sexual spores externally on a special cell called a basidium. In most basidiomycetes four basidiospores form on each basidium. Because the basidium is often club-shaped, the basidiomycetes are sometimes referred to as club fungi. The basidiomycetes comprise the second largest group of fungi, including mushrooms, boletes, bracket fungi, rusts and smuts. Did you know? Most familiar mushrooms…

Cystidium A specialized sterile end cell formed anywhere in fungal tissue of a mushroom. It is most commonly found in the hymenial layer of tissue (the surface covering of the gills), but may also be found on the surface of the cap, the surface of the stipe (stem), or even within the sterile tissue of the stipe.

Decurrent Extending downward from the point of attachment, as in a leaf base that extends down along the stem. In mushrooms, pertaining to the attachment of the gills to the stipe (stem), in which the gills curve partly down the stipe towards the base of the stipe.

Deliquescing The process by which gills in the mushroom genus Coprinus (Ink Caps) rapidly break down into a black ink-like liquid, droplets of which disperse spores

Dextrinoid A type of chemical staining reaction in which the tissues of certain fungi (spore wall ornamentation, etc.) stains reddish to reddish-brown in Melzer's reagent.